Readers Write: Rise up against violence

Did you know that every nine seconds somewhere in America a woman is physically abused? Did you also know that teen dating violence is rapidly on the rise? More than one in four teenage girls in a relationship report enduring repeated verbal abuse and one in five teens who have been in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner.

In the Prevention Program of Tahoe Women’s Services, we believe knowledge is power, and the more knowledge you have the more powerful you can be!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and what better way to recognize it than learning to become more empowered and learning how to protect yourself in violent situations. Tahoe Women’s Services and the Charles Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Truckee/Tahoe have collaborated to provide the best comprehensive self-defense classes in our area! In our four hour Personal Safety and Empowerment courses you can learn to read your instincts, use assertive communication, role-play confrontational situations, use body-language and voice to prevent a situation from escalating, protect yourself using physical self-defense techniques and practice full-impact techniques on a trainer in protective gear. Statistics suggest that 85 percent of potential attacks can be prevented by an initial assertive response.

Assertiveness is largely a learned behavior, and in our society men have traditionally been encouraged to practice it much more than women. Practicing assertiveness can have an immediate and profound effect on your daily life. However, if a situation does escalate to a physical attack, the techniques we teach can help you to protect yourself. Physical self defense is not about fighting, it’s about staying safe and getting away. Every woman should take a self defense class not only to learn the techniques, but to feel more empowered and self assured. Our next Personal Safety and Empowerment Seminar will be held in Tahoe City on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, please call Tahoe Women’s Services at 530-587-2787.